Like most self-respecting device manufacturers, Amazon will typically cover defects of Kindle e-readers, Fire Phones or tablets stateside for a year after your original purchase. Fire Kids Editions used to be the only notable exception to that rule, as you got 24-month worry-free guarantees against all sorts of incidents, including electrical and mechanical breakdowns.

But now the ultra-low-cost new Fire 7 also strays from the beaten 12-month path, and not to offer any more incentives for you to buy the thing in a six-pack. Quite on the contrary, and you’d better think twice before paying $50 (or $250 for half a dozen units), given you’ll merely be supported free of extra charge if the 7-incher presents production flaws in your first three months of use.

Amazon probably didn’t hide the 90-day “limited warranty and service” conditions when it unveiled its cheapest Android tab to date, but of course, it didn’t crow about it either, so we’re only now discovering the caveat on the US e-commerce portal.

There’s of course a simple and not that expensive workaround for folks who want to be guaranteed complimentary repairs longer, namely extended SquareTrade protection plans starting at $9.99. 10 bucks scores you a year of coverage against “failures from normal use”, as well as drop and spill incidents, $16 keeps you insured for two years, and $22 is for a whopping 36 months.

Then again, what Android enthusiast in his right mind would plan on using a modest 1,024 x 600 display-sporting, 1GB RAM-packing slate for three years?’

Source: Amazon
Via: The eBook Reader
SquareTrade protection plans available here